Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) issued a fiery response to a reporter who pressed him about his position on ending the filibuster.
Manchin was asked if Republican opposition to Democratic legislation would shift his position on ending the filibuster.
He replied, “Never! Jesus Christ. What don’t you understand about never?”
From colleague Jason Donner. Manchin when asked if GOP opposition to Dem bills might change his mind on eliminating the legislative filibuster: “Never! Jesus Christ. What don’t you understand about never?”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) March 1, 2021
The U.S. Senate website defines the filibuster as an “action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill.”
During an interview with The New York Times in December, Manchin made it clear he would not vote to end the filibuster “because that would break the Senate,” as IJR previously reported.
He added, “If you basically do away with the filibuster altogether for legislation, you won’t have the Senate. You’re a glorified House. And I will not do that.”
Manchin indicated he would not vote to end the filibuster even if it comes down to passing a COVID-19 relief package.
“If we can’t come together to help America, God help us,” he said, adding, “If you’ve got to blow up the Senate to do the right thing, then we’ve got the wrong people in the Senate, or we have people that won’t talk to each other.”
Another senator who has voiced opposition to terminating the filibuster is Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), as IJR previously reported.
“They will not get my vote on [nuking the filibuster],” Sinema said.
She continued, “In fact, whether I’m in the majority or the minority, I would always vote to reinstate the protections for the minority… It is the right thing for the country.”
The House passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill and the Senate is expected to start debating it this week.
Democrats are seeking to push the legislation through the Senate using “reconciliation,” which allows the bill to pass without the 60 votes normally needed.